TNA Wrestling star Mike Santana recently appeared on The Angle Podcast, where he opened up about his journey to sobriety, his goals for the upcoming Slammiversary pay-per-view, and his high praise for the current TNA locker room. Santana, who will compete for the TNA World Championship this Sunday, shared the deep personal motivation driving him.
“She Is The Reason Why I’m Here Today”
When asked about his plans should he win the TNA World Title, Santana revealed his first act would be a tribute to his daughter. “First and foremost, me winning, the first thing I’m going to do is present that title to my daughter because she is the reason why I’m here today,” he stated. “She’s the reason why I’ve been able to go on this journey I’ve been on.”
He elaborated on how meaningful the moment would be for his entire family. “For the rest of my family, they saw me at rock bottom,” Santana said. “They saw me at a point where they didn’t think I was going to come back from and I didn’t think I was going to come back from.”
Advice for Those Struggling with Addiction
Drawing from his own experiences, Santana offered advice for other wrestlers who may be battling addiction. “It’s an unfortunate reality that we live in, right? Not everyone’s perfect and not everyday is good,” he began. “Seeking help is so important. Putting your pride and your ego to the side.”
Santana reflected on his own past struggles, saying, “I was a very prideful person. And I was a very ego driven person. But at the same time, those were the things that drove me to where I was. Sometimes you have to put that to the side and ask for help and it’s okay. Thankfully I did… to those struggling, there’s help.”
“The Best Locker Room I’ve Ever Been In”
Santana also spoke glowingly about the current atmosphere in TNA Wrestling. “I think it’s a great place and I think it serves professional wrestling as a whole,” he said. “It’s awesome that it’s always been a place where people can come and reunite their passion and careers… It’s probably the best locker room I’ve ever been in, straight up.”
Regarding the current TNA World Championship picture, Santana was blunt about his feelings toward the reigning champion from NXT. “Am I happy about Trick Williams having the title? Absolutely not. I look at him as an outsider,” Santana stated. “I look at him as someone who doesn’t respect the lineage and respect the weight that’s been put on that belt.” He also discussed fellow challenger Joe Hendry, saying, “I respect what Joe has done… but at the same time it’s like, is Joe a wrestler’s wrestler? I feel like I carry the true essence of what TNA is.”
A Dream Match with “The Phenomenal One”
When asked which WWE Superstar he would most like to face in TNA, Santana had one name in mind. “The only person that’s on that list right now until it happens is AJ Styles,” he declared. “AJ is undoubtedly the guy who when you really think of TNA, it’s AJ Styles. The number one homegrown guy and I feel like I’ve been that guy also… To be able to wrestle him and learn from him, like, that’s the guy.”
Mike Santana is scheduled to compete in the main event of TNA Slammiversary this Sunday, July 20, at the UBS Arena in Long Island, New York. He will challenge for the TNA World Championship in a three-way match against the defending champion Trick Williams and Joe Hendry.
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